Podcasts about blind person

43 [11.27] Kituzr Shulchan Aruch Yomi 23:16-22 [#Possukim To Read. Showed WRong Place. Blind Person]

Brooke has been blind since birth. We discuss the story of Blind Bartimaeus from the end of Mark 10. Her insights into the story help us understand blind people a little better. Hear the impact of this story on her doctorate.   Links: Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …  Moment for Eternity - Training for Evangelism   Follow us on Twitter ~ Feedback ~ Facebook ~ iTunes Podcast ~ Vimeo ~ STS Youtube ~ God's Story Youtube

One of the blessings we recite each morning is "Poke'ah Ivrim," praising Hashem for "opening the eyes of the blind." The idea underlying this Beracha is that we must never take for granted the ability we have each morning to open our eyes and see. The eye is an especially fragile organ, and even the slightest disorder can cause it to malfunction and deny us the ability to see, Heaven forbid. Vision is a precious gift which we must appreciate anew each and every day, and so our Sages instituted the recitation of a special Beracha to thank Hashem for granting us the ability to see. Unfortunately, however, not everyone is able to see, and some people are blind. The Magen Abraham (Rav Abraham Gombiner, Poland, 1635-1682) ruled that since a blind person cannot see, he does not recite the Beracha, as he is unable to thank Hashem for "opening his eyes" and granting him the gift of vision. At first glance, this Halacha depends on a fundamental question regarding the nature of the Birkot Ha'shahar obligation. The Rambam maintained that one recites each of the Birkot Ha'shahar only upon benefitting from the phenomenon referred to in that Beracha. Meaning, upon hearing the rooster's crow, one recites, "Ha'noten La'sechvi Bina"; upon opening one's eyes, one recites, "Poke'ah Ivrim"; upon getting out of bed, one recites, "Matir Asurim," and so on. If one does not experience one of these phenomena, then, according to the Rambam, he does not recite the corresponding Beracha. The Magen Abraham's ruling appears to follow this perspective, that one who does benefit from the phenomenon mentioned by one of the morning blessings does not recite that blessing. Hence, a blind person does not recite "Poke'ah Ivrim." Others, however, disagreed, and understood that we recite these Berachot to praise Hashem not for the benefit we personally receive from these phenomena, but rather for the phenomena themselves, for the very fact that He made them part of the natural order. Additionally, the Arizal explained these Berachot as having deep mystical meanings, which are relevant to everyone, irrespective of whether or not one experiences the phenomena mentioned in these blessings. According to this perspective, it would seem that a blind person should, in fact, recite Birkot Ha'shahar. Indeed, the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) brings the Arizal's teaching and concludes on this basis that even a blind person recites the Beracha of "Poke'ah Ivrim." Moreover, the Peri Hadash (Rav Hizkiya Da Silva, 1659-1698) writes that a blind person should recite "Poke'ah Ivrim" because although he himself cannot see, he benefits from the vision of others. People are able to help him – bringing him where he needs to go, and bringing him what he needs – because of their gift of vision, and so he must praise Hashem for this gift. This line of reasoning led Rav Moshe Zakut, cited by the Hid"a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806) in Shiyureh Beracha, to conclude that even the Rambam would require a blind person to recite "Poke'ah Ivrim" each morning, as he indeed directly benefits from the precious gift of vision. One may, however, question this assertion in light of the fact that the Rambam's son, Rabbenu Abraham ben Ha'Rambam (1186-1237), in one of his responsa, sharply criticizes a certain congregation that hired a blind Hazan, who recited aloud the morning blessings, including "Poke'ah Ivrim." Rabbenu Abraham presumably followed his father's rulings, and his objection thus indicates that in the Rambam's view, a blind person does not recite this Beracha. Another argument for allowing a blind person to recite "Poke'ah Ivrim" is advanced by the Shalmeh Sibur, who asserts that the blessing of "Poke'ah Ivrim" does not actually refer to the ability to see. After all, even while we sleep, we are able to see; our eyes are closed, but not dysfunctional. Therefore, it cannot be said that our vision is restored in the morning, warranting a Beracha over our regaining the ability to see. The Shalmeh Sibur thus explains this blessing differently, as referring to our ability to notice things, to live with an awareness of what's happening around us, a quality metaphorically described as the opening of our eyes. (Clearly, however, this is not the commonly accepted understanding of the blessing.) As for the final Halacha, we might have assumed that since we recite the morning blessings together, and not when we benefit from each phenomenon, we follow the view that these blessings praise Hashem for the phenomena in general, and for our personal benefit. Moreover, we recite the Beracha of "Ha'noten La'sechvi Bina" even though we do not hear the rooster's crow. Although the Shulhan Aruch accepts the aforementioned ruling of the Rambam, that one should recite each Beracha as he experiences the phenomenon it speaks of, the common custom is to recite them all even if, for whatever reason, we do not experience one of the blessings. Seemingly, then, it should follow that a blind person recites "Poke'ah Ivrim" even though he cannot see. However, Hacham Ovadia Yosef writes that the case of a blind person differs in that the individual is not capable of enjoying the gift of sight. It is possible that we recite even the blessings over phenomena which we do not personally experience only because we are potentially able to enjoy these features which Hashem built into the natural world. Hence, this does not prove that a blind person – who has no possibility of enjoying the gift of sight – recites "Poke'ah Ivrim." In light of the different opinions, Hacham Ovadia rules that it is preferable for a blind person not to recite this Beracha, following the general rule of "Safek Berachot Le'hakel" – that we do not recite a Beracha when it is uncertain if it is warranted. However, Hacham Ovadia writes, if a blind person recites the Beracha, he does not have to be told not to.

True grit? Not the movie or book, but a real live individual. I met Laura Bratton about a month ago and realized that she was a very unique individual. Laura was referred to me by a gentleman who is helping both Laura and me find speaking venue leads through his company. Laura is just ramping up her public speaking career and our mutual colleague, Sam Richter, thought I could be of help. Little did I know at the outset that not only would I gain an excellent podcast guest, but that I would find someone whose life parallelled mine in many ways.   Laura Bratton began losing her eyesight at the age of nine years. Like me, she was one of the lucky ones who had parents who made the choice to encourage their daughter and help her live her life to the fullest. And live it she does. Laura attended public school in South Carolina and then went to Arizona State University to secure her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Why ASU? Wait until you hear Laura tell that story.   After securing her degree in Psychology she moved to the Princeton School of Divinity where she secured a Master's degree in Divinity. She followed up her Master's work by serving in a chaplaincy program in Ohio for a year.   Then, if all that wasn't enough, she became a pastor in the United Methodist Church and took a position in South Carolina. She still works part time as a pastor, but she also has taken some other exciting and positive life turns. As I mentioned earlier, she is now working to build a public speaking career. She also does one-on-one coaching. In 2016 she wrote her first book.   Laura shares many poignant and relevant life lessons she has learned over the years. We talk about courage, gratitude and grit. I asked her to define grit which she does. A very interesting and good definition indeed.   I often get the opportunity to have guests on this podcast who share life and other lessons with all of us. To me, Laura's insights are as relevant as any I have encountered. I hope you will feel the same after listening to our conversation. Please let me know what you think. You can email me at michaelhi@accessibe.com.       About the Guest:   At the age of nine, Laura was diagnosed with an eye disease and faced the difficult reality that she would become blind. Over the next ten years she experienced the traumatic transition of adjusting to life without sight.  Laura adjusted to her new normal and was able to move forward in life as she graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in psychology. She then was the first blind student to receive her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.  She is the author of the book, Harnessing Courage. Laura founded Ubi Global, which is an organization that provides speaking and coaching to empower all people to overcome challenges and obstacles with grit and gratitude. Ways to connect with Dr. Laura:   Link for LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bratton-speaking   Website https://www.laurabratton.com/   Link for coaching page on website https://www.laurabratton.com/coaching  Link for book on website https://www.laurabratton.com/book   Link for speaking page on website https://www.laurabratton.com/speaking   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Well and a gracious hello to you, wherever you happen to be on our planet today, I am your host, Michael Hinkson, and you are listening to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and we sort of get to tie several of those together today, because my guest, Laura Bratton happens to be blind, so that brings inclusion into it, and we could talk about diversity all day. The experts really tend to make that a challenge, but we can talk about it ourselves, but Laura is blind, and she's going to tell us about that, and I don't know what else, because that's the unexpected part of this, but we're going to have ourselves a lot of fun for the next hour. She knows that the only rule of the podcast is you got to have fun, and you can't do better than that. So Laura, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here.   Laura Bratton ** 02:12 Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm excited.   Michael Hingson ** 02:15 Well, this will be some fun, I'm sure, which is, of course, what it's all about. Well, why don't we start by you telling us kind of about the early Laura, growing up and all that, and anything about that that you think we ought to know that'll help us as we go forward.   Laura Bratton ** 02:31 So the early Laura was,   Michael Hingson ** 02:34 you know, that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But yeah,   Laura Bratton ** 02:38 was was fearless. Was involved in so many different activities, and I didn't have any health concerns or vision problems. And then around the age of nine, after the summer, after my second grade school year, my parents started noticing she's just holding books a little bit closer. She's just sitting a little bit closer to the TV than normal, than usually. So my they decided we'll just make a regular pediatric ophthalmology appointment, take her to the doctor, get the doctor to check her out. You know, if you need glasses, that's fine, and we'll just move on with our our summer and prepare for a new school year. So that June, when I had that doctor's appointment, my eyes were dilated. I'd read the the letters on the chart in the room. The doctors had looked in my eyes, and then the doctor just rolled back in his chair and looked at my mom and said, there's a major problem going on, and we need to address this, and I'm going to send you to a retina specialist. There's something major going on with her retinas. So from that appointment that started the rest of the summer and into the fall of just having doctors, different doctors appointments, meeting with specialists, trying to figure out why this 910, year old was all of a sudden having vision problems.   Michael Hingson ** 04:20 So yeah, go ahead that,   Laura Bratton ** 04:22 yeah. So that started the whole vision loss journey,   Michael Hingson ** 04:27 and what was the diagnosis that they finally came up with?   Laura Bratton ** 04:31 So they finally came up with a diagnosis of rare retinal onset disease. So it's not genetic. It wasn't like another accident, physical accident that calls the blindness. It's most similar to macular. So what I was losing first was my central vision. I still had all my peripheral vision, so it's very similar to macular, but not. Not quite macular or star guards. What's happens in children? So that's the diagnosis, just rare retinal disease.   Michael Hingson ** 05:11 Interesting, and they they didn't have any idea that what caused it. Do they have any better idea today? Or is it just so rare that they don't tend to pay a whole lot of attention. Great   Laura Bratton ** 05:23 question, yes and yes. So I've done a lot of genetic testing over the years, and the gene has not been discovered. That is obviously what they are predicting, is that there had to be some kind of gene mutation. But that gene hasn't been discovered. So far, the genes that are identified with vision problems, those have not been the problem for me so far. So the gene, Gene hasn't been discovered. So testing continues, but not exactly sure yet.   Michael Hingson ** 05:59 Yeah. So do you have any eyesight left, or is it all gone?   Laura Bratton ** 06:04 I don't, so to continue kind of that process of of the the early childhood. So I was diagnosed around nine, but I didn't lose any major vision until I was in middle school. So the end of middle school is when I started to lose a significant part of sight. So I went from very quickly from roller print, large print, to braille, and that was a very quick transition. So basically it was normal print to learning Braille and using Braille and textbooks and Braille and audio books and all that. Then through high school, I will throw more a significant amount of vision. So what I have currently is just very limited light perception, no, what I consider no usable vision, just light perception,   Michael Hingson ** 06:55 so you learn braille. So you learn braille in middle school. Then, yes, okay, absolutely. What did you think about that? Because that was certainly a life change for you. How did you deal with all of that?   Laura Bratton ** 07:10 How did I do with the process of learning braille or the emotional process?   07:14 Both,   Laura Bratton ** 07:16 they're kind of related, so both, they're very much related. So learning Braille was incredibly difficult because I was trying to learn it at the same time. Use it with textbooks in middle school level material rather than normal development. Of you learn braille and start out, you know, with with simple books, and slowly move up. I try, you know, I had to make that adjustment from learning Braille and then algebra in Braille or Spanish and Braille. So using the Braille was very difficult, but I was because I was forced to to learn it, because I had to, just to stay in school. You didn't really have a choice. As far as the emotional perspective. My first thoughts was just the denial, oh, it's not that bad, oh, it won't be forever. Oh, it's not going to get much worse than this. Just that denial of the reality. And then I can say more, if it just kind of that whole how that whole process unfolded, that's kind of the whole emotional process. It   Michael Hingson ** 08:34 certainly was a major change for you, yes, but it sounds like by the time all was said and done, and you did have to immerse yourself, like in learning Braille and so on. So it was an immersive kind of thing. You, You did come through it, and you, you seem to be functioning pretty well today, I would gather   Laura Bratton ** 08:55 Yes, because of focusing on the emotional mindset piece. So once that I've sort of began to move out of denial. It was that, okay, well, I can't this is just too hard. And then what I eventually realized and accepted was, yes, it's hard and I can move forward. So just a practical example, is what you were saying about having to be fully immersed in the Braille. Yes, is really hard to jump from learning braille to knowing Braille and algebra. But also choose to move forward. As you said, I choose to immerse myself in this so that I can continue life, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 09:42 and you you have done it. Well, how? How do you view blindness today?   Laura Bratton ** 09:49 That is a great question. So today is the balance of acknowledging. Yes, they're difficult moments. Yes, their stressful moments. Moments, and I have the resources to process that. So now, rather than just being a denial or being stuck in that I can't do this, I can say, okay, yes, this is hard. Yes, I am frustrated. Yes, I am overwhelmed in this moment, but also I can move forward with the gifts and purposes that I have in this world and using that as a strength. So for me, it's that acknowledging the rap the reality, but also moving forward with that belief in myself, trust in myself.   Michael Hingson ** 10:39 So how long did you at the beginning really grieve and view all this in a negative way? Because it sounds like you've evolved from that today.   Laura Bratton ** 10:53 Absolutely. So in my experience, the so I'm going to break the grief and the negative apart, because for me, it was two different experiences. So for me in those middle school, high school days, it was more than negative, and the grief just came along with that. Now even, you know, through college and even now, yes, there are moments that I grieve, but that negativity has turned into the mindset of strength, the mindset of trust, the mindset of okay, I can continue forward Again, living out those purposes, my purpose with those gifts as a source of strength, the source of courage. It's a source of just belief in myself. So my experience now is the mindset of holding both intention, holding space for both when I have those moments that I need to grieve, absolutely, giving myself those space and then at the same time, choosing to move forward with that courage, rather than being stuck in what I was in middle school of that negativity. Does that difference? Does that make us make sense of what I'm trying to separate the two?   Michael Hingson ** 12:19 Well, yeah, they overlap, but I understand what you're saying, Where, where and how were your parents in all of this?   Laura Bratton ** 12:28 So that was the incredible gift, that that was a deep source of strength, that as that middle school child who was in that negative place of denial and I can't, I can't. That was the source of strength. So immediately, when I was diagnosed, even though I didn't have major vision loss, I was diagnosed in elementary school, they wanted to send me to school for the deaf and blind, and so my parents had to fight to keep me in regular school. Again, I wasn't experiencing major vision loss, but just having minor vision loss, the school said, Okay, you're at a public school and going to a different school. So my parents were a source of strength, because they knowledge what was happening, what was going to happen, but also held me to the same standards.   Michael Hingson ** 13:25 And there are some schools, I don't know how much today, but in the past, there were some schools for the blind, and I'm not sure about schools for the deaf and blind, but we'll put them in the same category. But there were some schools that really did have very high standards, and and did do a great job. The Perkins School was one. Tom Sullivan, the actor, went through Perkins and and I know other people who did, but in general, the standards weren't the same, and I had the same issue. I remember my parents. We were in the office of the school principal of Yucca school where I went kindergarten through third grade here in California, okay, and I remember a shouting match between my father and my mother on one side, and Mr. Thompson, the principal on the other. And by the time all was said and done, he decided that it was he was going to acquiesce, because they were not going to let me go to the school for the blind, which would have been like, 400 miles away.   Laura Bratton ** 14:38 Okay, okay, so, so you can relate to that experience.   Michael Hingson ** 14:42 I can absolutely relate to that experience, and I think that it's for kids one of the most important things to hope comes along that parents deal with blindness in a in a positive way. Yes, and don't view it as something that's going to hold you back. I. 100% Yeah, because if they do, then that creates a much more difficult situation. Yes. So it's it's great that you had some parents who really stood up for you and helped as you went   Laura Bratton ** 15:15 Yes, and I was also deeply grateful that they all they held those standards at school, and they also held those standards at home. So they didn't just say, oh, you know, our expectations are lower for you at home, you don't have any more chores. You just kind of do whatever you want, get away with whatever you want. They kept those things standards. I still had chores we just made, you know, the accommodations are adapted if we needed to adapt anything. Yeah, a story that I always, always remember, just like you talking about you vividly remember being in that principal's office. I remember one day my the specific tour was unloading the dishwasher, and I remember thinking, well, oh, I'm not really, I don't really want to unload the dishwasher today. So I just kind of thought, Oh, the blindness will get me out of the situation. So I was like, Mom, I can't unload the dishwasher. I can't see exactly where to put all the silverware in the silverware of her door. And I still, I can still see this in my mind's eye. She was standing in the doorway the kitchen and the hallway, and she just turned around and just said, Laura, unload the dishwasher, put the silverware in the drawer, and just walked away. And that told me she was still holding me to the exact standards. She wasn't saying, Oh, honey, that's okay because of your blindness. Yeah, you don't have to do it. That was such a huge teaching moment for me, because it pulled me I can't use my blindness as an excuse. That was incredible experience and I always think back on and remember,   Michael Hingson ** 17:04 yeah, and I remember growing up, there were chores I did, there were chores My brother did, and there were things that we had to do, but we had, and my brother was cited two years older than I, but okay, but we had very supportive parents for both of us. And one of the things that the doctors told my parents when they discovered that I was blind, was that I was going to take all the love that the family had, even for my older sibling. Oh, my parent and my parents said that is just not so, and they worked really hard to make sure that my brother got all the things that that he needed and all the support that he needed as well. Wow. When he was still in high school, I remember they got him a car, and I don't remember when he got it. Maybe, I don't know whether he was already a senior in high school, but he got a car. And, you know, I didn't want a car. I right. I didn't want that, but, you know, that was okay. I would have driven it around if I got one, but, you know, that's okay, but, but parents are such an important part of the process, yes, and they have to be ready to take the leap, yes, that blindness isn't the problem. It's attitudes. That's really, that tend to really be the problem, right? 100%   Laura Bratton ** 18:24 and thankfully, thankfully, I had that. I had that experience another, another example that I always think of all the time, still such a vivid memory, is as as a family. We were a big sports family, and loved to go to different sporting events, and so we would always go to high school and college football games. And as I was in those middle school, high school years, those first, early days of experiencing difficult vision loss, where obviously I'm sitting in the sands and can't see the field clearly, rather than my parents saying, Oh, you're just going to stay home. Oh, you're not going with us. To be part of this, my dad are really, literally. Remember my dad saying, Here's a radio. I just put new batteries in. Let's go. So I would just sit there and, you know, with with my family, listening to the game on the radio. And that was such a gift, because, again, they didn't say, is what you're saying about the leap. They didn't say, okay, you can do this anymore. They just figured out a way to adapt so that I was still part.   Michael Hingson ** 19:34 Yeah, I've been to a number of baseball games, and the same thing, I've never been I've been to a high school football game, but I've never been to a pro football game, and I've never been to a basketball game, and while I think it would have been fun, I'm a little bit spoiled, and I think that the announcers today aren't as good as the announcers that we used to have, like Dick Enberg doing sports out here, who did. Football chick, Hearn, who did basketball, who could talk as fast as, I mean, he was, he was he taught me how to listen fast. That's great. He he talked as fast as many times books I read talk. He was just incredible. But that's okay. But still, I've been to games, and it is a lot of fun to be able to go and listen. It's even if you're listening on the radio, the point of being at the game is just the sounds and the experience of being at the game and hearing and interacting with all the sounds, because you're not hearing that as much through the radio as you are listening to the fans as they yell, or as the Yes, as the foul balls coming at you. You know, yes 100%   Laura Bratton ** 20:50 and just to feel the energy, you know, and your team's doing well, your team's not doing well, just to feel that energy, and there's to also to be there and have that, that fun experience with your family or friends, or you know, whoever you're with, that is such a fun experience. So yes,   Michael Hingson ** 21:08 so when you went into high school, did, what did you study? Or what did you do there?   Laura Bratton ** 21:15 What were your interests? So in college, when I   Michael Hingson ** 21:18 was thinking high school, but you can do college. So   Laura Bratton ** 21:21 High School, honestly, I didn't have specific professional interests, because it was just so much focused on the blind surviving and all the surviving, just the New Black, because the blindness was literally happening during high school, right? So my only focus was just survival passing because it was all of my energy was focused on the the learning Braille and just completing the assignments. Fast forward to college. My focus was definitely. My major was psychology. My focus was on psychology. A lot because of my personal experience, because of that experience in high school, and just that that not only that desire from my personal experience, but just using that experience to then help and support others from the mindset of of again, moving through that, that negativity to that, that foundation of grit. So it was definitely focused on psychology to be able to support others from a mindset perspective.   Michael Hingson ** 22:36 So how did you bring that into play in college?   Laura Bratton ** 22:40 So that was my focus. My My major was psychology, and then I I spent that, those years in college, figuring out specifically what area of psychology I wanted to focus on, which what, what facet of psychology I wanted my focus to be so that was, that was the purpose of the like psychology and taking different classes within psychology to try to figure out where my strengths within that Major   Michael Hingson ** 23:16 and what did you discover?   Laura Bratton ** 23:20 So what I discovered was I wanted the psychology to the mindset, to support people with to be that holistic perspective of, yes, the psychology, but also the spiritual connection and just our physical well being all connected together, so supporting our healthy mindsets and emotional health was not just psychology. It was the psychology, physical taking care of ourselves and the spiritual taking care of ourselves, all connected, combined together. So that's that's what led me to doing a master of divinity to be able to focus on and learn the spiritual part   Michael Hingson ** 24:15 of the mindset. So what part of psychology Did you eventually settle on   Laura Bratton ** 24:22 the holistic approach. So rather than just focus on specifically the mindset, focusing on us as a whole, being, supporting us through that mental, physical, spiritual connection that the healing, the empowerment came through, through all of that. So in that masters, what I focus on specifically was chaplaincy, so supporting people specifically I was a hospital chaplain, so focusing on helping people within the hospital setting, when they're there for different physical reasons and. Being able to be that spiritual presence focusing on both the spiritual and the emotional.   Michael Hingson ** 25:07 And where did you do your undergraduate study?   Laura Bratton ** 25:11 So I did my undergrad at Arizona State, and I was going to say a large reason, but not just a large reason, pretty much the whole reason I chose ASU was for their disability resources. So a major focus that that they emphasize is their disability resources is not a separate part of the university, but it's completely integrated into the university. So what I mean by that example of that is being a psychology major. I still had all the same classes. I was still in all the same classes as all the other psychology students on campus. I just had the accommodations that I needed. So that would be double time all testing or note takers, if I needed note takers in a class. So they did an incredible job, like they had a whole Braille lab that would print Braille books and provide books in PDF format. So the accommodations that I needed as a person who was blind were integrated in to the whole college experience. So that was incredibly powerful for me as a person who had just become blind and didn't know what resources were available.   Michael Hingson ** 26:37 Did you have any major challenges and major issues in terms of dealing with blindness and so on, while you're at ASU,   Laura Bratton ** 26:44 not at all. I am so grateful for that, because I wasn't the only person on campus who was blind. I wasn't the first blind person. I certainly wasn't the last so because they had so much experience, it was, it was an incredible, again, empowerment for me, because on the emotional perspective, it taught me, and literally practically showed me, yes, I give me a person with a disability and be integrated into the world, because They they showed me the resources that were available. So I was deeply, deeply grateful for what they taught me. Now, where did you grow up? So I grew up in South Carolina,   Michael Hingson ** 27:31 so that is and that's why I wanted to ask that, because we hadn't mentioned that you were from South Carolina before, but that was a major undertaking. Then to go all the way across country to go to ASU, yes. On the other hand, they do have a pretty good football team.   Laura Bratton ** 27:49 Just say Right, right, right   Michael Hingson ** 27:52 now, my I went to University California, Irvine. I don't even know. I'm sure they must have some sort of a football team today, but they do have a pretty good basketball team, and I haven't heard whether they won the Big West, but I haven't Yeah, but I haven't heard that they did. So I'm afraid that that they may not have until going to march madness. Yeah, but whatever,   Laura Bratton ** 28:21 team for March Madness spell your bracket in a different way.   Michael Hingson ** 28:25 Well, they've been in the big dance before they got to the Sweet 16 once, which was pretty cool. Wow, that's impressive. Yeah, that was pretty cool. That's so cool. What did your parents think of you going across country   Laura Bratton ** 28:42 again? Just like you talked about your parents being that taking that leap, they were incredibly supportive, because they knew ASU would provide the resources that I needed. Because again, in those years as I'm losing a major part of my sight, we didn't know other people who are blind. We didn't know what resources were available. Obviously, my parents reach out to people around us, you know, to connect with people who are blind, to learn about that, but we didn't have a lot of experience with that. So what we knew, and what my parents were excited about was ASU would be a place that I can not only have that college experience, but be taught the resources. And one of the major resources was my disability coordinator, so my disability coordinator, who was in charge of of creating all my accommodations, she was also blind, and that was such a healing experience for me, because she became a mentor. She was blind since birth. She. And so obviously we had different experiences, where I was just newly blind. She had been blind, but still, she was an incredibly powerful resource and mentor of just telling me, teaching me, not just telling me through her words, but living through her actions, you still have a full life like you're you're still a few a full human like you. This life still goes on. So she just modeled that in the way that she lived. So she she was, I'm so grateful for her mentorship, because she was very real. She had minimized blindness. But also she told me and taught me and showed me there's still a full, great life ahead,   Michael Hingson ** 30:53 which is really what all of us are trying to get the world to understand. Blindness isn't the end of the world. It's not the problem   Laura Bratton ** 31:02 exactly, exactly, she literally modeled that,   Michael Hingson ** 31:06 yeah, which was pretty cool. Well, then where did you go to get your Masters of divinity?   Laura Bratton ** 31:11 So then I went to get my masters at Princeton Theological Seminary, and that was a completely different experience, because, where as you, was completely set up for people with disabilities in the master's program, they had not had someone come through their program who was blind. So in that experience, I had to advocate and be very, very clear on what my needs were, meaning what the accommodations were that I needed, and then advocate that to the administration, which that wasn't a gift, because ASU had given me the foundation of knowing what I needed, what the accommodations Were then available. And then Princeton gave me the opportunity to become my own advocate, to force me to speak up and say, These are my needs, and these are accommodations I have. With these accommodations, I can be an equal student, so I'm not asking, Hey, give me good grades because I'm blind, but make the accommodation so that I have my books and PDF so I have double time on the test. So that was just as healing and just as powerful, because it gave me the opportunity to advocate and become clear on my needs so that I could communicate those needs. So   Michael Hingson ** 32:38 this is part of Princeton in New Jersey. Yes, so you were were in Jersey for a while, huh? Yes,   Laura Bratton ** 32:45 I went from sunny weather to   Michael Hingson ** 32:50 snowy weather. Well, you had some of that in South Carolina too, though,   Laura Bratton ** 32:53 yes, true, but from undergrad, it was quite the change.   Michael Hingson ** 32:58 Ah. But the real question is, when you were in New Jersey. Did you get to meet any members of the family? You know what I'm saying, the mob, Oh yes, absolutely being bada. Boom. Come on now,   Laura Bratton ** 33:11 definitely, definitely, definitely, absolutely, absolutely, yeah, lot of local restaurants and Oh yes,   Michael Hingson ** 33:21 oh yes. When we were building our home in New Jersey, my wife was in a wheelchair her whole life, and we decided that when we went to New Jersey, because I was going to be working in the city New York, we wanted to build a house, because it's cheaper to build an accessible home for somebody in a wheelchair. My wife then it is to buy a house and modify it so we wanted to build. And it turns out that the person who financed the building, we got a mortgage and all that without any difficulty, but we had to get somebody to build the house. And the realtors had people they worked with, the financier. Part of that was from a guy, well, let's just say his main business was, he was in the garbage business, and his last name was, was Pinto. So, you know, let's just say we know where he got his money. You know,   Laura Bratton ** 34:18 yes, yes. I had several those experiences too. Yeah, the garbage business seems to be big in Jersey. It   Michael Hingson ** 34:25 is big in Jersey, but, but, you know, but they were all, they were all very nice to us good. And so it really worked out well. It did. It all worked out. We had a wonderful home. The only difference between our house and the others around us is we had to include an elevator in the house, okay? Because we couldn't have a ranch style home. There wasn't room, and so we had to have and all the other homes in the development were two story homes, okay, but we had to have an elevator. So that was essentially about a $15,000 An uplift over what the House would have cost otherwise. But right again, you build it in so it's not that huge of a deal,   Laura Bratton ** 35:06 right? That's perfect. So all your neighbors are jealous.   Michael Hingson ** 35:10 Well, they didn't have the elevator. They didn't come and ride it much. So they didn't ask for their their their bigger challenges were, who's giving the biggest party at Christmas or Halloween? So we didn't participate in that, so we weren't we weren't a problem.   35:28 That's great,   Michael Hingson ** 35:30 yeah, so you've talked about grit a couple times, so tell me about grit, because clearly that's important to you,   Laura Bratton ** 35:39 yeah? So it's so important to me, because that was a main source of empowerment. So just as I talked about that negativity in the middle school high school, what grit helped me to do is take the overwhelming future that I was so fearful, I was extremely anxious as I looked at the whole picture everything ahead of me. So the grit came in and taught me. Grit is taking it day by day, moment by moment, step by step. So rather than looking at the whole picture and getting overwhelmed, the power of grit taught me all I need to do is trust myself for this next hour. All I need to do is trust in the support that my parents are giving me this next day. So breaking it down into manageable goals was the strength of the grit. So to break it down, rather than the whole future,   Michael Hingson ** 36:49 I didn't ask, do you did you have any siblings? Do you have any siblings?   Laura Bratton ** 36:53 Yeah, so I have one older brother. Okay, so   Michael Hingson ** 36:57 how was he with you being that you were blind. Was he a good older protective brother who never let anybody near his sister?   Laura Bratton ** 37:06 He was a good older protective brother in that he did exactly what my parents did in not having different expectations. Yeah, he so he's five years older. So when I'm 14, losing a significant amount of vision, or 15, losing a certain amount of division. He, you know, was 1920 doing great in college. So a perfect example of this connects with the grit he, he taught me, and again, not in word, not so much in words, but again, in those actions of we will figure this out. We don't know the resources that are available. We don't know exactly what the future looks like, but we as a family will figure this out. Me, as your older brother, our parents being our parents, we will figure it out day by day, step by step. And I remember a lot of people would ask my parents, what's her future, and then even ask my brother, what's her future? What's she gonna do? And they would honestly answer, we don't know, but as a family, we'll figure it out, and we'll provide the strength that she needs, and that's what I mean by the grit. So it wasn't, this is her future, and they just, you know, named it for being home with us, right? But it was, I don't know, but day by day, we'll have the grit to figure it out. So I'm glad you asked about my siblings, because that's a perfect example of how that grit came into play and was such a powerful source of strength.   Michael Hingson ** 38:54 So what did you do after you got your master's degree?   Laura Bratton ** 38:58 So after I got my master's degree, I then did a residency, just like I was talking about the chaplaincy. I did a residency specifically in chaplaincy to to complete that process of being a chaplain. So in that that was a year long process, and in that process, that was an incredible experience, because, again, it taught me, you are a complete human with gifts and talents. You just happen to be blind and need specific accommodations because of the blindness. So what I mean by that is, just as ASU gave me the resources regarding blindness, and just as Princeton gave me the gift to advocate for those resources, the experience in the chaplaincy taught me when I walked into a high. Hospital room and introduced myself as the chaplain on the unit. The patient didn't know, or didn't care how long I had been blind, or how did I make it on the unit? Or how did I know they wanted chaplain? They didn't care. They were just thankful and glad that I was there to serve them and be in that Chaplain role. So it was that's why it was empowering of healing to me, because it taught me not to focus so much on the blindness, but to view myself as that whole person, especially in that professional experience, so I can give endless examples of specifically how that, how, just the patient reaction taught me so much.   Michael Hingson ** 40:49 Where did you do your chaplaincy?   Laura Bratton ** 40:52 I did it at the Clinton clinic in Ohio. Oh,   Michael Hingson ** 40:56 my goodness, you did move around. Now. What got you there? Speaking of snow in the winter, yeah,   Laura Bratton ** 41:02 literally, I Yes, I can talk about that. And a lot of experiences there with snow, like effect snow is real. So they were very strong in their chaplaincy program and developing Kaplan's and also their Kaplan Z training was a focus that I wanted that holistic mind, body, spirit. It wasn't just spiritual or wasn't just psychological, it was the holistic experience of a whole person. So how wanting that to be my focus moving forward, that's where I chose to go to be able to focus on that. So again, it was such an incredible source of of healing through just through those patient interactions.   Michael Hingson ** 41:58 Well, one of the things that is clear about you is you're not bitter about any of the things that have happened, and that, in reality, you are a person who appreciates and understands the concept of gratitude.   Laura Bratton ** 42:11 Yes, yes. And specifically, let me go back to those high school days, and then I'll come back to the chaplain days, the way of the gratitude my focus started was not because I wanted gratitude, not because I chose to woke up, wake up one day and say, Oh, I'm so grateful for this blindness. But it all came through a mentor who said to me in those high school days, Laura, I want you to start writing down three things that you are grateful for each day and every day, I want you to write down three things that you're grateful for. So in my mind, my immediate reaction as a teenager, high schooler, was that's not good advice. I'm not sure you're a good mentor. I'm experiencing a major change in life, permanent life event. I don't know that there's a lot to be grateful for. So in my stubbornness, I said, Okay, I'm going to prove her wrong. So I started to think of the three things each day I was grateful for. And over the weeks that I did this, I then realized what she was teaching me, she was showing me. She wasn't asking me to be grateful for the blindness. She was asking me to recognize the gifts that the support that I had within the blindness. So, for example, the supportive parents, the older brother, who didn't make accommodations, or I mean, did make accommodations. Didn't lower expectations because of the blindness. So fast forward to the chaplaincy. I was incredibly grateful for all those patient experiences, because, again, it taught me to view myself as the whole person, not so hyper focused on the blindness. So one specific example that sticks out and was so clear to me is one day I had a patient request that one to see a chaplain, and I went in to this specific unit, and the so I walked in, my walked into the room, the patient took a look at my guide dog and me, and said, You're blind, like completely with this question or voice. And my thought was, well, I think so. I mean, that was this morning when I woke up, and so I said, Yes. And she said, Okay, then I'll, I'll share honestly with you how I'm doing and what I had learned, what I learned after my visit with her is she would not open up to the doctors, the nurses, the social workers, anyone who walked in the room. When I walked in the room and she didn't feel like she was being judged on her physical appearance, she was willing to open up and honestly share how she was feeling emotionally with her physical diagnosis. So that led that one conversation led to multiple visits where she could move forward in her healing emotionally because she was willing to open up and share and be honest with me as the chaplain. So that was an incredible situation of gratitude, because it taught me, yes, this is hard, yes, this is stressful. Yes, there are moments of being overwhelmed, and also their deep, deep moments that I am incredibly grateful for, that other people who are side sighted don't have that opportunity.   Michael Hingson ** 46:36 One of the things that I talk about and think about as life goes on, is we've talked about all the accommodations and the things that you needed to get in order to be able to function. What we and most everyone, takes for granted is it's the same for sighted people. You know, we invented the electric light bulb for sighted people. We invented windows so they can look out. Yes, we invent so many things, and we provide them so that sighted people can function right. And that's why I say, in large part, blindness isn't the problem, because the reality is, we can make accommodations. We can create and do create alternatives to what people who can see right choose, and that's important for, I think, everyone to learn. So what did you do after your year of chaplaincy?   Laura Bratton ** 47:39 So after my year of chaplaincy, after that incredible experience of just offering the patient care, I completed the part of the well after assorted in the master's program. But then after that, also completed my ordination in the Methodist Church. So I was appointed. I went to the process the ordination process, and then I was appointed to a local church back here in South Carolina. And again, with my focus on chaplaincy, my focus on patient care, I was appointed to that church for because what they needed most in the pastor the leader, was that emphasis on the pastoral care the mind, body, spirit connection. So as I became pastor, I was able to continue that role of what I was doing in the Kaplan see, of using both my professional experience as well as my personal experience of providing spiritual care to the members. So that was an incredible way. And again, that gratitude, it just I was so grateful that I could use those gifts of pastoral care, of chaplaincy to benefit others, to be a strength to others. Again, is that that whole person that that we   Michael Hingson ** 49:13 are now? Are you still doing that today? Or what are you doing   Laura Bratton ** 49:16 now? So I'm still I'm still there part time, okay,   Michael Hingson ** 49:21 and when you're not there, what are you doing?   Laura Bratton ** 49:23 I'm doing professional speaking, and it's all centered around my passion for that again, came when I was at Princeton, when I was doing the focus on chaplaincy, I became so passionate about the speaking to share my personal experience of the change I experienced, and also to empower others as they experience change, so not to be stuck in that. Negativity like we talked about in those middle school, high school days, but rather that everybody, regardless of the situation, could experience change, acknowledge it, and move forward with that balance of grit and gratitude. So that's my deep passion for and the reason for the speaking is to share that grit gratitude, as we all experience change.   Michael Hingson ** 50:26 So what made you decide to begin to do public speaking that what? What was the sort of the moment or the the inspiration that brought that about,   Laura Bratton ** 50:40 just that deep desire to share the resource that I'd experienced. So as I received so much support from family and community, is I had received that support of learning how to use the grit in the change, and then as I received the sport support of how to use the gratitude in the change, the reason for this, speaking and what made me so passionate, was to be able to empower others to also use this resource. So I didn't just want to say, okay, it worked for me, and so I'll just keep this to myself, but rather to use that as a source and empowerment and say, Hey, this has been really, really difficult, and here's how I can use the difficulty to empower others to support others.   Michael Hingson ** 51:31 So how's that working for you?   Laura Bratton ** 51:34 Great. I love, love, love supporting others as they go through that change. Because again, it comes back to the blindness. Is not not all we focus on, it's not all we think about, it's not all we talk about, it's not all we do, but being able to use that as a shrink to empower others. So just speaking to different organizations as they're going through change, and working with them speaking on that. How can they specifically apply the grit, the gratitude? How does that? What does that look like, practically, in their organization, in their situation? So I love it, because it takes the most difficult thing that I've been through, and turns it around to empower others.   Michael Hingson ** 52:24 What do you think about the concept that so many people talk about regarding public speaking, that, Oh, I couldn't be a public speaker. I don't want to be up in front of people. I'm afraid of it, and it's one of the top fears that we constantly hear people in society have that is being a public speaker. What do you think about that?   Laura Bratton ** 52:47 So two, two perspectives have helped me to process that fault, because you're right. People literally say that to me every day. How do you do that? I could never do that. I hear that every single day, all day, and what I've learned is when I focus on, yes, maybe it is the large audience, but focusing on I'm speaking to each person individually, and I'm speaking. I'm not just speaking to them, but I was speaking to serve them, to help again, that empowerment, to provide empowerment. So what I think about that is I don't focus on, oh my gosh. What are they going to think of me? I'm scared up here. Rather to have that mindset of, I'm here to share my life experiences so that they can be served and empowered to continue forward. So just shifting the mindset from fear to support fear to strength, that's that's how I view that concept of I could never do that, or that's my worst fear.   Michael Hingson ** 54:01 So a lot of people would say it takes a lot of courage to do what you do, what? How do you define courageous or being courageous?   Laura Bratton ** 54:08 Great question. That's a working, work in progress. So far, what I've learned over the years and again, this is a process. Not there wasn't just one moment where I said, Okay, now I'm courageous, and I'm courageous forever, or this is the moment that made me courageous, but how I understand it and how I process it now is for me and my experience courage is accepting and acknowledging the reality and then choosing to move forward with the grit, choosing to move forward with the gratitude. So holding both intention, both can be true, both I can acknowledge. Okay, this is difficult. Cult, and also I can also believe and know. I can have the grit moment by moment by moment. I can have the gratitude moment by moment by moment. So for me, courage is holding both intention the reality and what I mean by both is the reality of the blindness and reality of the frustration of people's faults, judgments. You know all that you can't do this. How can you do that without sight holding all of that at the same time as I have the support I need to move forward? So for me, Courage looks like acknowledging why I'm overwhelmed and then choosing at that same time to move forward with the support that I have. Mm, hmm. So again, that's what I mean by it's not just like one moment that, oh yeah, I'm gonna be courageous now forever, there's certainly a moment so I don't feel courageous, and that's okay. That's part of garbage. Just acknowledging that frustration and also choosing to move forward. So it's doing both it at the same time.   Michael Hingson ** 56:10 We live in a world today where there is a lot of change going on, yes, and some for the good, some not for the good, and and all sorts of things. Actually, I was reading an article this morning about Michael Connolly, the mystery writer who, for four decades, has written mystery books. He's lived in Los Angeles. He had a wonderful house, and everything changed when the fires hit and he lost his home and all that. But he continues to to move forward. But what advice would you give? What kinds of things do you say to people who are undergoing change or experiencing change?   Laura Bratton ** 56:52 I'm so glad you asked that, because I I didn't mention this in the grit so much of the grit that I experienced. So the advice I would give, or practically, what I do with someone that just what I did right before our we connected, was being being that grit for someone going through change. So in that, for example, in that speaking when I'm speaking to a group about the change they're experiencing, acknowledging, for them to acknowledge, let me be your grit. You might be overwhelmed. You might be incredibly fearful and overwhelmed by the future, by the task in front of you. So let me be the example of grit to to show you that there is support, there is courage, there is that foundation to be able to move forward. So that's my first advice, is just allowing others to be your grit when you don't feel like you had it, because, again, in those high school days and and even now days when I don't feel like I have any grit, any courage, and yet, I'll lean on the courage, the strength, the grit, of those around me so once they acknowledge and allow me to be their grit, and they their support through that change, then allowing them to slowly have that grit for themselves, and again reminding them, it's not an instant process. It's not an instant do these three steps and you'll have grit forever. But it's a continual process of grit and gratitude that leads us through the change, through the difficulty.   Michael Hingson ** 58:46 Have you used the technique that that person that you talked about earlier in high school used when she asked you to write down every day three things that you were grateful for?   Laura Bratton ** 58:56 Yes, absolutely, and the the funny part of that, what that makes me laugh is a lot of people have the exact same reaction I had when I present it to them. They immediately say, I'm not going to do that. That's no Why would I do that? They immediately think that is a horrible piece of advice. And how can I recommend? And I just, I don't say, Oh, well, just try it anyway. I just say, Well, okay, just try it and see. Just, just prove me wrong. And just like my experience, they try it and then a week or two days like, oh, that actually worked. I didn't think that would so, yeah, I'm so glad you said that, because that happens a lot. People said that is that doesn't make sense. Why are you telling me to be grateful in the midst of this overwhelming situation? So yes, great, great perspective that happens all the time.   Michael Hingson ** 59:55 Well, we've been doing this now for about an hour, but before we wrap up, do you. Have any other advice that you want to pass on for people who are dealing with change or fearing change in their lives right now,   Laura Bratton ** 1:00:08 the advice would be, take it step by step, moment by moment, rather than trying to navigate through the whole change at one time that's overwhelming, and that that's not the process that is most healing. So to trust in yourself, to trust that grit around you, and then just like, like you were saying, and ask me, and it doesn't seem like it'll work, but try the gratitude, try that three things every day you're grateful for, and just see what happens as you navigate through the change. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:52 And it really does work, which is the point?   Laura Bratton ** 1:00:54 Which is the point? Right? Right? We don't think it's going to but it, it totally does   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:59 well. Laura, I want to thank you for being with us. This has been absolutely wonderful and fun, and I hope that people who listen got and who watch it got a lot out of it. And you, you provided a lot of good expectation setting for people. And you, you've certainly lived a full life. We didn't mention we got us before you we we sign off. You're also an author,   Laura Bratton ** 1:01:24 yes. So I wrote harnessing courage again, just like the reason I speak, I was so passionate about taking the grit and the gratitude that I use that was such a source of Empower for me, I wanted to tell my story and tell it through the perspective of grit and gratitude so that other people could also use it as a resource. So the book tells my story of becoming blind and adapting and moving forward, but through the complete expected perspective of the gratitude, how I didn't believe the gratitude would work, how I struggled with thinking, Oh, the gratitude is ridiculous. That's never going to be source of empowerment. Yet it was so. The purpose of the book, my hope, my goal for the book, is that people can read it and take away those resources as they face their own change their own challenges.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:30 And when did you write it? So I wrote   Laura Bratton ** 1:02:33 it in it was published in 2016 Okay, so it that that definitely was, was my goal and passion, and that just writing the book was incredibly healing. Was like a great source of strength. Cool,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:50 well, I hope people will get it. Do you do any coaching today or   Laura Bratton ** 1:02:54 Yes, so I do coaching as well as the speaking so the the one on one coaching, as people are experiencing difficult, difficult or just navigating through change, I do the one on one coaching as well as the speaking,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:11 which is certainly a good thing that chaplaincy taught you. Yes, 100% Well, thank you again for being here, and I want to thank all of you for being with us today, wherever you are. We would appreciate it. I would definitely appreciate it. If when you can, you go to wherever you're listening to or watching the podcast and give us a five star review. We absolutely value your reviews. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this, and I'm sure Laura would. So you're welcome to email me at Michael, M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, love to hear your thoughts. And also, of course, as I said, we'd love your your five star reviews, wherever you're listening. Also, if any of you, Laura, including you, have any thoughts of others who we ought to have on this podcast, we're always looking for more guests, and we really would appreciate it if you'd let anyone know who might be a good guest in your mind, that they can reach out or email me, and I'll reach out, but we really would appreciate that. But again, Laura, I just want to thank you one more time for being here and for taking all this time with us today.   Laura Bratton ** 1:04:27 Thank you for the opportunity, and thank you for hosting this podcast. Incredibly powerful and we all need to be reminded   **Michael Hingson ** 1:04:37 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In today's episode, Lois chats with Guillaume Hervier, host of the French language podcast, Les Voyages A L'Aveuglette. Guillaume chats about his life growing up in France with retinitis pigmentosa and the accessibility features that are typically found in France for people who are blind or partially blind. He also discusses his love for travel, which was borne out of his participation in blind tennis. Since this was the first time I had heard of blind tennis, we dig a little deeper into how the sport is played, and Guillaume shares a little of the history of the game. We also talk about his time living in Indonesia and his hope to found a travel agency focused on encouraging both disabled and non-disabled French people to visit the country he came to love. Finally, he shares some of the reasons why people may wish to visit France. Find Guillaume on the following links: Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lesvoyagesalaveuglette Podcast feed: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/les-voyages-a-laveuglette/id1481509619 Image description: I'd love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

Erik Weihenmayer made history in 2001 as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. By 2008, he had completed the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains on each continent. Since then, Erik has embraced a wide range of adventure sports from paragliding in the Rocky Mountains and ice climbing in Nepal to kayaking the length of the Grand Canyon.Connect with Erik: WebsiteInstagramNo Barriers website & Instagram Listen to the Camp Nowhere Podcast Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Honey Stinger

2502 Encore of 1404 Life as the Partner of a Blind Person (Jan. 8, 2025) Show Notes Eyes On Success usually focuses on products, services and daily living stories for and about people with vision loss. This week's episode covers what it's like for a sighted partner of a blind person. We've been married for … Continue reading 2502 Encore of 1404 Life as the Partner of a Blind Person (Jan. 8, 2025) →

Episode 208, the role of AI in the life of a blind person AnnouncementsThe countdown is on to our 4- year anniversary celebration! We will be recording on 21 December at 12PM Eastern or 9AM Pacific and you are invited to take part. We'll be posting a link on our usual channels closer to the time.Our Youtube channel has reached 1,500 subscribers! Thank you so much for all your support.Android BasicsThe crew discusses the rapidly evolving world of AI and its use cases for blind people. We discuss the AI capabilities of TalkBack and Jieshuo, implementation of AI by other blindness-specific apps such as Be My Eyes, Seeing AI, PiccyBot and Ally from Envision, and mainstream solutions on which these capabilities are built - ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Also, check out Karene's article comparing the video description capabilities of Seein AI and Piccybot.TalkBack HighlightsJohn shows us the new screen search reading control we now have access to as of TalkBack 15.1.Tip of the weekKarene demonstrates chat filters in Meta's WhatsApp Messenger.Staying in touchMake a donation via PayPal, Email us your Android journey stories, suggestions or comments, subscribe to our Email list, join our Telegram and Facebook groups, subscribe to our YouTube channel.Leave us a voice message via our suggestions, comments and questions phone number at: +1-307-202-9797. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Date : Fri, 01 Nov 2024 Speaker : Ash Sheikh Akram Abul Hasan (Madani) M.A (Hons) at Kochikade Jumuah Masjid, Colombo 13 Language : Tamil

Coach Brandon is an incredible USA professional developing important and meaningful prompts to the visually impaired and blind community to fully access physical training at its best. Brandon Piane  is a personal trainer and inclusive fitness trainer with over a decade of experience training individuals with various disabilities how to exercise effectively and safely.  With a BS degree in Exercise Science and years spent working with clients, he created Tactile Training to make exercise more accessible for the blind and visually impaired community. Tactile Training uses verbal cues to describe how movements should feel when performed correctly instead of how they should look.  This proprioceptive or "touch-first" approach to fitness has helped individuals learn proper exercise techniques and find new self-confidence in movement.  If it feels right; you're doing it right!Find Coach Brandon on FACEBOOK or LINKEDIN and discover his INCREDIBLE NEWSLETTER: If you are interested in physical well-being for visually impaired and blind people, I highly recommend subscribing for free. If you are visually impaired or blind, or if you know someone who is, and would like to take part to the series of Martial Attitude Voice podcast interviews exploring touch, confidence and blindness or if you would like to join in the Martial Attitude Training workshops now running in London every Sunday, please do keep in touch, via Instagram or according to your communication preferences, all available HERE. Sincerely,Mathias AlbertonFounder CEO at Martial Attitude C.I.C.BPS trainee Sport Psychologist MSc in Applied Sport Psychology at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK.

Welcome to Episode #56 of The Tactile Traveler, from KDNK Community Access Radio in Carbondale, Colorado. We're all about creating fun and meaningful experiences for both blind and sighted travelers, helping to tackle the isolation that can come with vision loss. In this episode: - We dive into the impact of gun violence on blindness with some powerful survival stories. - Get important tips on blind etiquette, including why you should never grab a blind person. - Hear Jennifer Cleveland's inspiring advice on staying independent while losing sight. - And catch an exciting update on showdown, a game designed specifically for the blind community. Whether you're blind, visually impaired, or sighted, there's something valuable here for you. Listen now and help us spread the word!

In our Nothing's Off Limits, we ask a blind person all the questions you've ever wanted to know about living life with no vision. Subscribe on LiSTNR: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/hughesy-ed-and-erinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's podcast, Hughesy Ed and Erin speak to olympic legends Steph Rice, Andrew Gaze, Matt Mitchem, PLUS we hear from a blind person in Nothing's Off Limits - does she care the way she's dressed? A Secret Life of Sydney reveals a car accident that caught up with future finances... and comedian Pete Hellier joins show.Subscribe on LiSTNR: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/hughesy-ed-and-erinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joeita speaks to blind filmmaker James Rath about his journey in film production and direction. Part 2 of a 2-part series. HighlightsBlindness, the Gaze & Filmmaking - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing James Rath - Legally Blind Film Director, Accessibility Advocate & Speaker (01:56)Becoming a Blind Filmmaker (02:20)The Impact of YouTube (04:49)Using a Camera & Editing Video as a Blind Person (7:55)Finding Inspiration (12:13)Collaborating with Major Brands (15:30)Working with a Cast & Crew (19:25)Upcoming Projects (22:10)Show Close (25:44)Guest BioBorn legally blind with non-correctable conditions, Ocular Albinism and Nystagmus, James found a love for the camera when he realized, at its core, it's just a hi-tech magnifier. Since the age of 8, James has actively filmed videos for the digital age.Through his YouTube channel, film work, and public speeches, James explores how technology enhances lives, particularly for those with disabilities. His work not only educates but also entertains, empowers, encouraging a deeper understanding and appreciation of the disabled community.Links:James Rath's WebsiteSEE DIFFERENT SEE DIFFERENT is an initiative founded by filmmaker and content creator James Rath, aimed at promoting accessibility and innovation through storytelling and community engagement. Born with blindness, James uses his unique perspective to challenge norms and inspire change.James Rath on YouTube About The PulseOn The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights. Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio. For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/ About AMIAMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI's vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal. Learn more at AMI.caConnect on Twitter @AccessibleMediaOn Instagram @accessiblemediaincOn Facebook at @AccessibleMediaIncOn TikTok @accessiblemediaincEmail feedback@ami.ca

For Paralympian athlete Gerrard Gosens, taking on the challenge of swimming across the English Channel is more than just a physical one. It's also mental, as the blind swimmer confronts the elements and conditions of the day and then figures out how to overcome them.  Gerrard tells us on Streets of Your Town podcast how he is well into an intense training regimen preparing for his attempted channel crossing in August - swimming from the UK to France in his quest to become the first blind person to do so.  It's a big leap from his previous sport of running - having represented Australia in long distance running in three Paralympic Games and three IPC World Athletic Championships from 1996 to 2011, as well as the Paratriathlon at Tokyo 2022. Contact Streets of Your Town host Nance Haxton AKA The Wandering Journo and find socials links HERE Get the full story, and join The Wandering Journo tribe at substack.soyt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

part-time pan Delta says all the things you shouldn't say to pan people. post of the week: https://www.tumblr.com/themaveriqueagenda/749988263531593728/a-detailed-timeline-of-maverique-history shop: https://freakshop-2.creator-spring.com all the links: linktr.ee/misfitmediapod subscribe: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/message

part-time pan Delta says all the things you shouldn't say to pan people. post of the week: https://www.tumblr.com/themaveriqueagenda/749988263531593728/a-detailed-timeline-of-maverique-history shop: https://freakshop-2.creator-spring.com all the links: linktr.ee/misfitmediapod subscribe: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/message

In our latest episode, we're diving deep into a truly enlightening conversation with Steve, a blind entrepreneur who's mastered the art of living beyond sight. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone eager to challenge their perspectives and embrace life's infinite possibilities. Steve's journey from dealing with retinoblastoma at just three months old to founding a tech company that empowers the blind and visually impaired with the tools to navigate our digital world is nothing short of inspirational. His insights on accessibility, technology, and living a full life without sight will challenge you to reconsider what you know about seeing with the heart versus the eyes. Welcome to Elite Thinking Club Podcast: A Show Dedicated to Critical Thinking

beautifully blind person Delta talks about how their residual vision works. post of the week: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3aQqZlI5C6/ all the links: linktr.ee/misfitmediapod subscribe: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/message

beautifully blind person Delta talks about how their residual vision works. post of the week: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3aQqZlI5C6/ all the links: linktr.ee/misfitmediapod subscribe: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misfitmedia/message

The post “What does ‘seeing is believing’ mean to a blind person?” appeared first on Key Life.

The best bits from Mark and Caroline for breakfast on 92.7 MIX FM  https://www.mixfm.com.au/

Catch up with the latest from us on our socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayjayandflynny/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayjayandflynny Also, we are on the radio on More FM from 3-7pm weekdays, no radio, no problems you can listen to us via the ROVA App (free to download & use from the app store) 

Astronomy Facts | What the Kids are Missing | Ask a Blind Person Anything   Paul Delaney gives us his three astronomy facts we should know. Jim discusses the things kids these days are missing. Plus, Shilo Bellis joins our segment “Ask a Blind Person Anything,” to talk about his experience.

Here are the topics covered in this episode, and the time in the file for each. Welcome to 236 0:00 The sale of Voice Dream Reader is official 1:11 The struggle to get Apple to care about locking blind people out of one of their services 7:47 I am concerned about Oko 28:00 I don't like being blind 33:07 Ableist Language. Are you blind? 47:15 How accessible is the Qardio Arm? 49:51 David Epstein introduces the All Terrain Cane 1:01:11 Google is also not taking accessibility seriously 1:24:40 Spin bike demo 1:26:06 Entering into the world of hearing aids 1:36:08 The Bonnie Bulletin 1:45:43 Closing and contact info 1:58:01

INNERSIGHT FREEDOM Congress must protect a blind person's eyes equal to that of the sighted person.   FRANK PERINO HOST SUZANNE ‘SUZ' CO-HOST   INNERSIGHT MEANS FREEDOM ADVOCATES FOR THE DISABLED  

Send us a Text Message.Cancer is typically associated with loss, disease, and death. Tina Withrow, active advocate for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, recognizes those things but chooses to associate cancer with hope. Listen to this amazing interview with not only one of my mentors but some one who is family to me! Welcome to the Speak Your Vision Podcast where we talk about having a strong growth mindset and a positive lifestyle.

Planning any wedding is a lot of work, but navigating inaccessible venues, dress shops and providers can take up a lot of extra time. Amelia talked to blind bride to be, Angharad, about the ups and downs of the process so far. You can find Angharad on twitter as @AngieBeatDown Image: RNIB Connect Radio Logo

In this episode, I show people how someone with a visual impairment can travel independently. I also talk about a few announcements that might be of interest to those who live in Missouri.

Chris chats with WSET Diploma student Richard Lane on his journey so far studying wine as a blind person.

In this first episode of Take 5, our hosts in the Introduction to Podcasting group talk about what it's like as a blind person watching movies at both the theater and school. They talk about the closed captioning systems, and how they are constantly mistakenly given those devices instead of audio description.

Meet Mac Potts, one half of our two-part story this month. Born totally blind, Mac discovered his love for music as a young child. While music quickly became a big part of his life, he shares that he often felt like a kid who struggled to find a place of belonging. But when he discovered he could just be authentically himself, he also discovered music could be used as a tool for connection. That connection with music is how he met Hailey, his now wife. Hailey's early story also starts with music. As an extremely shy child who struggled with a lot of social anxiety, she found her voice through music. Music became her dream and although she almost gave up on it at one point, she has learned to be authentic with her story as well. Together with a sense of humor and their three little girls, Mac & Hailey are living out their dream as a full time recording artist and piano teacher. — To watch Mac & Hailey's video, see the full show notes, and access resources: www.only7seconds.com/the-potts — To learn more and support the I KNOW LONELY Project: click here. Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Music written & produced: Dash8

I am overwhelmed and thrilled to share with you my conversation with Kym Dekeyrel, the fittest blind person on earth. Kym was diagnosed with a degenerative condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 5 years old and over the course of years lost her vision until she was rendered completely blind. After encountering other debilitating autoimmune conditions throughout her life, she found freedom in a CrossFit gym. She ultimately competed her way to the very top, and earned the title of fittest blind person on earth. In this episode Kym shares how she navigated her darkest moments, how she continues to navigate the dark moments, and how she finds the light in all she does. Check her out on Instagram @kympossiblexoxo Want the Free Guide: "How To Get Back On The Wagon"? Get it here! https://www.taylorannmacey.com/free-guide-pod Want to receive my "Thursday Thought Play" ? Get it here! https://www.taylorannmacey.com/ttp Schedule your FREE Set Your Custom Macros Call with me here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18505613

To help spread awareness during October Blindness Awareness Month, we're inviting you to share your vision-loss journey through written word, audio or video as a part of our October “Share Your Vision” campaign. You can choose whether to share your story with a small select group of people you know or to share your story more broadly. We are here to help either way! Visit www.FightingBlindness.org/ShareYourVision to learn more.

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Maud Rowell about her new book Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness (404 Ink, 2021). Maud is a freelance journalist and writer from London. She went blind at 19 while traveling in South Korea. Two months later, she went on to begin a four-year degree in Japanese Studies at University of Cambridge including one year at Doshisha University in Kyoto. She trained in journalism at City, University of London, and over the course of the pandemic, wrote her first book Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness published by 404 Ink in November 2021. In the summer of 2021, she won the Holman Prize run by San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and received a grant to travel around Japan and write about her experiences.

2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022) Show Notes Most episodes of Eyes On Success center on the experiences of a blind person, whether dealing with technology, employment, travelling or whatever. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss raising and living with a blind person from everybody else's perspective, … Continue reading 2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022) →

In this episode of iCantCU, I talk about a notice I received for jury duty. I'm hoping I can participate this time. I also talk about a Keystone Chapter meeting and cookout. Believe You Can! 2022 was discussed at the meeting. In this week's segment of Just Listen, I'll take you to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. There are also a couple of Ziggy stories, too. Show notes at https://www.iCantCU.com/197          Believe You Can! 2022 The 3rd annual Believe You Can! A talent show for blind and visually impaired performers is on 10/15 at 8 PM. Tickets are now on sale at https://www.BelieveYouCan.live/tickets. Snickerdoodle Party Cookies  Products I Mentioned The cookies that Eliz made for the cookout that Ziggy helped himself to are Snickerdoodle Party Cookies. Here is the recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/snickerdoodle-party-cookies Eliz has converted most of the recipe to grams and weighs most ingredients out using our EatSmart food scale (https://amzn.to/3engIqU ). For that, see the show notes page mentioned above.  These links are affiliate links. I participate in the Amazon Associates program and earn a small commission if you make a purchase using one of my links. Support iCantCU Do you shop at Amazon? I would appreciate it if you clicked on this link to make your purchases: https://www.iCantCU.com/amazon. I participate in the Amazon Associate Program and earn commissions on qualifying purchases. The best part is, you don't pay extra for doing this! White Canes Connect Podcast In episode 045 of White Canes Connect, Lisa and Stacie talk to Bill McCann from Dancing Dots. The company is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Dancing Dots created GOODFEEL®, the world's first commercial braille music translator software, and has pioneered the area of creating what Bill calls "accessible scores." Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-canes-connect/id1592248709 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1YDQSJqpoteGb1UMPwRSuI IHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-white-canes-connect-89603482/ Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7dd1600d-05fa-48f3-8a8e-456e30e690bc/white-canes-connect My Podcast Gear Here is all my new gear and links to it on Amazon. I participate in the Amazon Associates Program and earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Zoom Podtrak P4: https://amzn.to/33Ymjkt Zoom ZDM Mic & Headphone Pack: https://amzn.to/33vLn2s Zoom H1n Recorder: https://amzn.to/3zBxJ9O  Gator Frameworks Desk Mounted Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/3AjJuBK Shure SM58 S Mic: https://amzn.to/3JOzofg  Sennheiser Headset (1st 162 episodes): https://amzn.to/3fM0Hu0  Support Keystone Chapter Please donate to the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Pennsylvania by going to http://www.SupportKeystoneChapter.org. Scroll down to the text field and enter the amount you'd like to donate. PayPal handles payments, but you don't need a PayPal account. You can donate with any credit or debit card. Thank you so much! I appreciate it. Follow the iCantCU Podcast so you don't miss an episode! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Google | IHeartRadio Reach Out On Social Media Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Get In Touch If you've got questions, comments, or show ideas, I want to hear from you! Call (646) 926-6350 and leave a message. Include your name and town, and let me know if using your voice on an upcoming episode is okay. You can also email the show at iCantCUPodcast@gmail.com.  

In this episode, we'll discuss how to swim in the ocean when you're blind, and a trip to a tasting, or food source, garden. In memory of Kat Bradbury who made The Tractile Traveler possible.

Fellow Blindees, have you ever been asked a question and wanted to just burst out laughing because of how ridiculous it was? That's what this episode is all about. For my sighted friends, there are questions that are absolutely hilarious to blind people. Learn what they are and why we think they are ridiculous inn this episode of blindspot!0:54: How do you "do school"?6:25: Were you born like that?9:03: Do you have a normal life?11:57: Dreams? 14:44: Do you fall over a lot?17:41: How many fingers am I holding up?20:39: Do you smell people? 23:46: Do you ever worry that you've done a bad job brushing your hair?

In this podcast i am doing my blind tag. Would I ever date another blind person? I talk about if I would ever date a another blind person like myself

2223 Pet Peeves of a Blind Person (Jun. 8, 2022) Show Notes People who are blind have many ways of adapting in a world that consists of primarily sighted people. Sometimes though, being blind can be frustrating, especially when simple changes that could be made to make our lives easier are not made. This week … Continue reading 2223 Pet Peeves of a Blind Person (Jun. 8, 2022) →

Ever wondered why blind people wear sunglasses? Or if blind people use their blindness to game the system? Have you debated whether it's ok to say something like “oh my god I'm so blind” in front of a blind person? Then you may want to listen to this episode. This is the start of a new series where I answer questions you're too afraid to ask about blindness/blind people. If you have questions you'd like me to answer, put them in a review below and they could be answered in a future episode of the series!

Why does the Gemarah in Nedarim say a Poor person, Metzorah, Blind Person, and a Childless person are considered like they are dead? What do those four have in common? Based on ideas of the Einei Yitzchak and Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz.

Mussar

Using Seeing AI short text, product, and handwriting channels to identify products. Using Seeing AI short text and document channels, as well as Voice Dream Scanner to read documents.  Using Tap Tap See to identify colours. Using BeMyEyes and other visual assistance such as AIRA or Facetime video.

Andrew Shearer (@Gonzoriffic) and Matt Comegys decide what you do when you see a blind person.Do your homework, and have a squiz at the flick here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuEWA-B64YwPlease subscribe, review, and rate us on all the podcatchers.  We are at @AuralHygienePod on Twitter and you can search the same on Facebook.  And if you're Scrooge McDuck, throw a bob to out Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/podcastiopodcastiusDig into Andrew's scene by searching "Gonzoriffic" on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gonzoriffic/Matt has a brand new album of psychedelic electro-rock.  Why not have a listen?  Ain't no charge:https://rovingsagemedia.bandcamp.com/album/cave-at-the-endComing SoonJune 17 - Pokemon Trading Card Game Trainer Video 1999June 18 - "Who Watches the Watchers?" from Star Trek:TNGJune 20 - Read All About It: The Problem PitJune 25 - Dog Star ManJune 26 - Tarot (narrated by Christopher Lee)

After Erik Weihenmayer become the only BLIND PERSON to summit Mt Everest: He was on the cover of Time Magazine, won the ESPY, was on Oprah, spent time with Tom Brady, shook hands with Mohammad Ali-he literally was Elevating Beyond... But the words kept rattling around in his brain that his expedition leader told him: "Don't make Everest the greatest thing you ever do." On this episode of Elevating Beyond, Mark sits down with Erik as he shares the story behind the story of what it felt like to go blind in 9th grade, battling fear and hopelessness, and how he chose to live a life of No Barriers. Erik explains what is is to live a life of alchemy, and how all of us can choose to become courageous. Erik is the best selling author of Touch The Top of The World & No Barriers, A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon. Learn all about Erik, and join in on his adventures here http://www.touchthetop.com Connect with host, Mark Minard, here http://markminard.net Get Your Interactive Live Stream Ticket To Elevating Bdeyond's Live Event, July 15th Click Here Now http://edgy.ist/elevate-minutes